Illegal Negotiations

Robert Turner says that Nancy Pelosi could be prosecuted under the Logan Act (subscription required). It seems like an open-shut case to me, but this Justice Department would never do it, of course.

It’s an ongoing mystery to me, actually, why the Bush Justice department treats Democrats with kid gloves. Berger gets a slap on the wrist, Jefferson still hasn’t even been indicted. Doesn’t exactly sound to me like the legal arm of a fascist regime.

[Update]

It seems to me that if the Bush administration was clever, the president would magnanimously issue a preemptive pardon to Madam Speaker (for this one incident, not blanket), but not to any of the Republicans who went. It would make the point without the Justice Department having to do anything at all, and it would be hilarious to watch the donkeys scream about it.

But, of course, the Bush administration isn’t noted for cleverness.

This Seems Wrong To Me

Surely, if the Constitution has a right to privacy, there must be a right to travel? Can the police really arbitrarily prevent people from doing so? Is there any precedent for such a ruling?

[Update a few minutes later]

Note, when I ask if there’s a precedent, I’m referring to the ruling, not cops preventing people from traveling. As noted in comments, one would think that this would be covered by the Ninth Amendment.

Pet Peeve

Andrew Stuttaford asks of the Guardian:

…is there something a bit unsettling about the way that has been written?

You mean, besides the fact that they can’t spell mischievous? The writer apparently spells it the way the writer (mistakenly) pronounces it.

This is one of my pet peeves. Many people wrongly pronounce this word MISCHEEVEEUS, four syllables, accent on the second syllABle, when there is no long ee sound after the vee, but this is the first time I’ve seen someone actually spell it that way (perhaps attempting to resolve the disparity between the actual word and the way he wants to pronounce it). It’s three syllables–MISchievous.

And, yes, that’s not the only problem with the paragraph he quotes.

Biting Commentary about Infinity…and Beyond!